Manufally propelled inertia vehicle



Dec; 27, 1938. c. s. AL XAN R 3 MANUALI JY FROPELLED INERT IA VEHICLE Filed Feb. 25, 1935 2 Shets-Sheet l A lNVENT OR 34 CUKkV/IY 5. flaw/vane v ATTORNEYS.

Dec. 27, 1938'. c s. ALEXAND ER 2,141,233

' MANUALLY PROPELLED INERTIA VEHICLE Filed-Feb. 25, 1935 2 sheets sheet 2 aa 9 F0 5 1 ,6, W

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Patented Dec. 27, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE MANUALLY PROPELLED INERTIA VEHICLE v Corwin S. Alexander, Indianapolis, Ind. Application February 25, 1935, Serial No. 8,017

a 13 Claims. (Cl. 280-217) plication, but may be applied with equal facility to a three or four wheel device.

The invention is also illustrated in its application as being adapted to transform a standard bicycle structure into a bicycle embodying the inertia principle.

The chief object of the invention is to provide a pedal operated vehicle with an inertia device, whereby the advantage of momentum acquired by the vehicle may be stored and subsequently utilized for power purposes.

Other features of the invention in addition to those hereinbefore suggested, will be set forth more fully hereinafter.

The full nature of the invention will be understood from the accompanying drawings and the following specification and claims:-

In the drawings, Fig. l is a substantially side elevational view, portions, however, being shown in perspective, of a bicycle'with the invention applied thereto.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged side elevational view of a major portion of the attachment applied to the bicycle shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a still further enlarged transverse sectional view of the control portion of the attachment and is taken on line 4--4 of Fig. 1 and in the direction of the arrows.

Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken on line 5-5 of Fig. 4 and in the direction of the arrows.

Fig. 6 is a sectional view taken on line 66 of Fig. 4 and in the direction of the arrows.

In the drawings, l0 indicates the usual bicycle frame structure having a rearwardly and downwardly directed rear wheel supporting fork II, and a similarly longitudinally and rearwardly directed fork I2 terminating in the usual hub structure I3 supporting a rear wheel I4 which includes an axle l5 mounting the usual sprocket pinion l6 driven by the sprocket chain H. The frame [0 terminates in the forward tubular portion l8 which rotatably supports the front wheel fork 19 supporting the front wheel 20. The handle bar structure 2| is rigid with the fork l9 in the usual manner and terminates in the handle trol member 24 for brake control. The two controls are connected by cables 25 and 26, respectively, to the respective clutch and brake operating members. Whenever desired, these cables may be, and as shown, enclosed within the tubular portion 21 of the frame I9.

The invention when applied as an attachment to a standard bicycle structure necessitates the removal of the usual pedal structure, the customary sprocket gear and all other associated parts enclosed within the tubular hub portion 28see Fig. 4of the standard frame.

Two parallelplates 29 lie approximately in the planes of the ends of the tubular portion 28. Two outer plate portions 39 are spaced therefrom and at their forward ends-see Fig. 3-e-xtend inwardly toward each other as at 3| and are suitablysecured to the plates 29, or the like. This produces a streamlining effect. The rear ends of each pair of adjacent plates 29 and 30 may be suitably secured together as at 32. This provides a well portion or space 33 Within which may be positioned the forward portion of the rear wheel I4.

Sincesee Fig. 3-each half of the construction is substantially similar to the opposite half, except where otherwise noted, the specific description will be directed to but one half.

34 indicates a pedal structure of conventional construction mounted by the pedal crank arm 35 keyed or otherwise suitably secured to the shaft 36, which projects through the plate 39 and is rotatably supported thereby. The enclosed portion of the shaft supports and drives a gear 31 which meshes with a chain 38 that in turn meshes with a pinion 39 rotatably supported on a shaft 40. Pinion 39 is rigid with gear 4| which, in turn, meshes with a chain 42 in turn meshing with a pinion 43 rigid with the tubular shaft 44 which is rotatably supported on the spindle 45 carried by the plate member 29. Spindle 45 and shaft 36 are herein shown integral. Rigid with the tubular shaft 44 is the gear 46 meshing with chain 41 in turn meshing with a pinion 48 rigid with a tubular shaft 49. Each half of the construction is substantially similar.

The tubular shaft 39, see Fig. 3, projects through the opening 59 in the plate 29 and terminates in a driving portion 5|, see Fig. 2, of semiratchet type as indicated by the numeral 52. The rollers 53,see Fig. 2, associated with the toothed portions of member 5| are so arranged that they are adapted when the pedal structure is depressed to grip the inner cylindrical wall 54, see Fig. 3,

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of a flywheel structure 55 that is keyed as at 56 to shaft 5?, see Fig. 3.

Shaft 5? is coaxial with the tubular shaft 49 and in Fig. 3, the upper end of the shaft 5'! projects beyond said tubular shaft and terminates in a pinion 58 which by means of chain 59, rotates gear Gil-see Figs. 2 and 4 particularly.

It will be observed that the inner cylindrical wall 54 is one wall of a well 6! formed in the hub portion of the inertia. wheel. The intermediate portion of the inertia wheel at each side is also relieved or provided with an annular channel 62 and nested therein is an annular support 63 suitably se-cured to the adjacent plate 29 as at 64. The annular anti-friction construction 95 is interposed between the frame 29 and the inertia wheel preventing wabbling of the wheel and insuring a more firm support therefor. As shown in Fig. 3, the shaft 40 for rigidity may extend entirely through all four frame members 29 and 30.

The ratchet and roller construction, it will be apparent, form a one-way clutch. Thus, as each pedal structure is depressed from the full line position shown in Fig. 1 to approximately the dotted line position shown in the same figure, the

portion 5I, through the rollers engaging the inertia wheel, rotates the inertia wheel in the same direction. As each pedal structure or both simultaneously are depressed, the wheel will be given a forward impulse and if alternately depressed, a continuous impulse may be imparted thereto. In this manner, while the wheel I4 is stationary, the inertia wheel may have imparted to it a high rate of rotation so that the driving pinion 58 will have a similar high rate of rotation for driving at the corresponding rate, the driven gear 60see Fig. 4.

Also illustrated in Fig. 4 is a driving sprocket '66 which, as before stated, is connected by the sprocket chain I! to the rear wheel sprocket I6 for driving the wheel I4. Each plate 30 adjacent and in axial alignment with the hub: portion 28 of the standard bicycle frame is provided upon its inner side with an anti-friction construction 67 retained in position by the socket forming and/or retaining collar 68. The antifriction construction supports the shaft 69 which extends from adjacent one frame member 30 to the opposite frame member 30. Rotatably supported by the shaft 69 is a tubular shaft 10 which is integral with the gear 60see the right hand portion of Fig. 4and the same is interposed between the adjacent anti-friction structure 61 and the shaft 69.

Coaxial with said shaft but longitudinally slidable relative to the same is a hub portion II. It has a spline connection I2 with the shaft. It also has a flange portion 73 provided With brake or clutch-lining I4 to insure better engagement with the clutch face I5 of the gear 60. The opposite end of the hub 'II terminates in a tubular extension I6 which is telescopically associated with one end of a coil spring I! that normally projects the clutch plate I3 into engagement with the gear 69, driven, as it will be remembered, by the chain 59, in turn driven by the pinion 58, driven by the inertia wheel.

The opposite end of the spring I! bears on a retaining member I8 rotatably mounted on the shaft and butting against an annular member I9 associated with an annular series of balls the latter being retained in the hub portion 28 of the frame of the bicycle by means of the annular hub reenforcing member 8| as shown.

A cylindrical member 82 having the inwardly directed flange 83 extends inwardly into the groove 34 formed between the two members I8 and I9 at their abutting faces, each being reduced for forming said annular groove. The gear 66 is rigid with the shaft '69.

A brake drum 85, see Fig. 4, has its side portion 86 rigidly secured by pin or like means 81 to the gear 66. A hub 88 of the drum encircles the shaft and thus the shaft constitutes a support for the drum. A brake band 89 may be provided with friction lining 99, or the like. Band 89 is of conventional character and is relatively stationary with reference to the frame, since one end 890. of the band 89 is carried by pin 9Ia carried by an actuating arm 9|, see left hand portion of Fig. 4:, pivoted as at 92 upon a support 93 and retained thereon as at 94. The support 93 is rigid with the adjacent plate 30. The operating arm 9| is suitably connected to the cable or cord 26. The other end 89b of the band 89 is suitably supported by the plate 30 as by post 95 extending therefrom and receivable in the cylindrical portion 99 of end 89a of band 89, see Fig. 4. Thus, an upward pull on cord 26 tilts lever arm 9! to force downwardly into drum clamping engagement the brake band 89.

The other cable 25 at 91 emerges from the tubular portion 2'! of the bicycle frame and is secured to the free end of lever 98 pivotally supported at 99 on a hub reenforcing collar I00 which encircles one end of the hub 28 of the bicycle frame. It will be noted that both ends of the hub are thus reenforced-see member 8|.

The clutch plate 73 has its hub portion II provided with a groove I9I in which rides the split clutch collar I 92. Said collar includes the twisted aligning fingers I03, the free ends I04 of which are slidably mounted in the grooves I05 in the reenforcing collar I00, suitably anchored to the hub 28 at I06. The hub 28 is apertured as at I01 and extending through the same and through the projecting embossment I08 on the reenforcing collar I00 is a rock shaft 99. The lever arm 98 has an extension I09 at one end of the shaft and the other end of the shaft supports a complementary arm l09a.

Each arm I99 and I09a is pivotally associated as at H0 with a link III. Each link III at its opposite end is pivotally associated with the trunnion I2 of the split clutch collar l02-see Fig. 5. Thus, a pull on the cable 25 through arm 98 rocks shaft 99 which tilts arms I09 and I09a, moving to the leftsee Fig. 4 the links I I I, in turn moving the clutch collar to the left in opposition to the constraint of spring I? to free the gear 60 from the shaft 69.

Reference will be had to Figs. 1, 2 and 3. In said figures the numeral II3 indicates a forward closure for-the two plates 29 and if desired, the same maybe extended downwardly serving as a mud guard as at II 4. In order to prevent Wabbling and the like, and also to serve as a guard, member II3 is extended upwardly as at H5 and terminates adjacent the tubular portion 21 and is suitably clamped to the tubular portion 21 of the frame as at II6. By reason of the unitary relatively rigid construction shown in Fig. 3 of the attachment and since it is anchored to the frame as at H6 and is furthermore centered and anchored through the hub structure 28 of the frame-see Fig. l-the attachment is relatively rigidly anchored to. the bicycleframe.

To effect the transformation, all that is requisite is to remove the pedal and sprocket construction of the standard bicycle construction and associate the attachment shown more specifically in Figs. 2 to 6, inclusive, and anchor the same as well as at H6 and then apply the control cables 25 and 26 and the operating levers 23 and 24, as shown or as otherwise desiredQ The operation of the device is as follows: With the clutch engaged, brake action not only retards the rear wheel of the bicycle or driving that desired for safe riding, and it is still desired to retain in the inertia wheel the power previously stored therein, the clutch is disengaged and the brake is engaged, which operation permits the vehicle to thereafter proceed to the bottom of the hill at the desired regulated speed and the inertia wheel to continue its independent rotation, the power dissipated thereby being only that necessary to overcome the friction of the parts. By reason of the overrunning clutch incorporated in the initial pedal drive connection to the inertia wheel, the pedals and all power mechanism between the pedals and the inertia wheel may and will remain stationary, if the pedals are not actuated.

As initially set forth herein, if the brake is engaged and the clutch is disengaged, the bicycle is held stationary and the pedals may be vigorously and repeatedly actuated to impart a high degree of rotation to the inertia wheel and then when the brake is released and the clutch is permitted to engage, the bicycle is moved by the power previously imparted to the inertia wheel and additional power may be continuously imparted for driving the bicycle, or the like, by continued actuation of the pedal structures. If it be assumed that the bicycle has reached the bottom of the hill and is starting up the next inc1ine,'the inertia wheel with the clutch engaged and the brake released will dissipate its power to and through the driving wheel of the bicycle for moving the bicycle up hill until such time as the rate of rotation of the inertia wheel is slightly less than the rate of rotation imparted to the inertia wheel by reason of pedal operation.

The invention set forth herein, therefore, is a conservation device as well as a device capable of permitting a bicycle to be started on its initial movement at a relatively high speed and the latter is obtained as before mentioned by imparting to the inertia wheel a very high degree of initial rotation while the bicycle is stationary, while the brake is engaged and the clutch is disengaged.

While the invention has been set forth'in considerable detail herein and has been shown applied to a bicycle as a transformation construction, the same is to be considered as illustrative and not restrictive in character for the device may be applied, as stated, to other manually propelled vehicles having a plurality of wheels and may be incorporated therein as a permanent organization or mechanism as distinguished from the transformation form of the invention illustrated.

It will also be readily apparent that various modifications of the invention may be made. For example, in the inertia unit including the power drive thereto from the pedals, and the like, various forms of brake mechanisms and operating sub-combinations therefor, various forms of clutch mechanisms and sub-combinations for operating the same, and all of such variations as readily suggest themselves to persons skilled in this art, are all considered to be within the scope of this invention, reference being had to the appended claims.

The invention claimed is:-

1. In a manually propelled vehicle of the bicycle type including a plurality of wheels, one of which is driven, the combination of a rotatable inertia member having a fixed axis of rotation, manually operable oscillatable means for rotating same, means for direct driving of the driven wheel by the inertia member, and manually operable control means selectively associated with the driving means for the purpose set forth.

2. A device as defined by claim 1, characterized by said control means including a clutch. construction and a brake construction.

3. A device as defined by claim 1, characterized by the addition of an overrunning clutch interposed between the first mentioned manually operable means and the rotatable inertia member, said manually operable control means including a clutch construction and a brake construction.

4. In a manually propelled vehicle of the bicycle type including a plurality of wheels, one of which is driven, the combination of a rotatable inertia member having a fixed axis of rotation, manually operable oscillatable means for rotating same, means for driving the driven wheel by the inertia member, and manually operablecontrol means associated with the driving means for the purpose set forth, said control means including a clutch construction.

5. In a manually propelled vehicle of the bicycle type including a plurality of wheels, one of which is driven, the combination of a rotatable inertia member having a fixed axis of rotation, manually operable oscillatable means for rotating same, means for driving the driven wheel by the inertia member, manually operable control means associated with the driving means for the purpose set forth, said control means including a clutch construction, and an overrunning clutch interposed between the first mentioned manually operable means and the rotatable inertia member.

6. An inertia attachment for a standard bicycle including a framework secured to and straddling the bicycle frame hub when the standard sprocket gear and pedals are removed therefrom, pedal means carried by the framework, an inertia member having a fixed axis of rotation nested therein and driven by the pedal means, manually operable control means carried by the framework in coaxial alignment with the frame hub, and a driving gear for the bicycle driven by the inertia member through said control means.

7. A device as defined by claim 6, characterized by a portion of said framework serving as a guard for the inertia member and as a support for anchoring the framework to the bicycle frame remote from the hub thereof.

8. In an inertia device for manually propelled vehicles such as a bicycle, the combination of a pair of relatively independent and oscillatable pedals, a rotatable vehicle propelling inertia member having a fixed axis of rotation, a pair of relatively independent driving members for rotating the inertia member, and a pair of one-Way clutches each being between the inertia member and the associated driving member.

9. In an inertia device for manually propelled vehicles such as a bicycle, the combination of an exterior framework, an interior framework, said frameworks being suitably secured together, said frameworks having portions spaced apart providing three operating spaces, a pair of pedal structures positioned exteriorly of the exterior framework and upon opposite sides thereof, a rotatable vehicle propelling inertia member positioned in the intermediate space, shaft means for the inertia member projecting into each exterior space and having a fixed axis of rotation, speed reducing mechanisms in each exterior space operable by the adjacent pedal structure for rotation of the adjacent projecting shaft means, and means operable by the inertia member for driving the vehicle.

10. A device as defined by claim 9, characterized by each pedal structure having an oscillatory movement only, said shaft means being relatively independent, and the addition of a pair of oneway clutches, each interposed between one of the pedal structures and the inertia member.

11. A device as defined by claim 9, characterized by the addition of one-way clutch means interposed between the shaft means and the inertia member. 7

12. In combination a frame for a manually operable vehicle, a steering post with a wheel rotatively mounted in the front portion of said frame, a shaft transversely supported on the rear end of said frame, a rear wheel rotatively mounted on said shaft, a bearing transversely supported on the front portion of said frame, a driving shaft journaled in said bearing, driving connections between said driving shaft and said rear wheel, pinions on the ends of said driving shaft, freewheeling clutches interposed between said pinions and said driving shaft, pedals on either side of said frame pivotally supported by their rear ends on the rear end of said frame, and independent speed reducing mechanisms between the pedals and the pinions.

13. In combination a frame for a manually operable vehicle, a steering post with a wheel rotatively mounted in the front portion of said frame, a shaft transversely supported on the rear end of said frame, a rear wheel rotatively mounted on said shaft, a bearing transversely supported on the front portion of said frame, a driving shaft journaled in said bearing, driving connections between said driving shaft and said rear wheel, pinions on the ends of said driving shaft, freewheeling clutches interposed between said pinions and said driving shaft, pedals on either side of said frame pivotally supported by their rear ends on the rear end of said frame, independent speed reducing mechanisms between the pedals and the pinions, and an inertia wheel rigid with the driving shaft and between said pinions.

CORWIN S. ALEXANDER. 

